Welcome to this week’s edition of News from the Eastern Churches, brought to you in partnership with L’Œuvre d’Orient. This week, we bring you updates on the struggles faced by Christians in Lebanon, the re-consecration of the Cathedral of Etchmiadzin in Armenia, and the establishment of a new Chaldean parish in France.
Highlights of the Week:
Christians Facing Hardships in Lebanon
Recent clashes in Lebanon have resulted in devastating consequences, particularly impacting the Christian community. Aïn Ebel, a Christian village in southern Lebanon, has been heavily bombarded, leading to numerous casualties. Father Gregorius Salloum, a Greek Orthodox priest from Abel al-Saqi, was severely injured in Israeli airstrikes, along with several of his family members. Tragically, a church in Baalbek was completely destroyed, and a school run by the Daughters of Charity in southern Beirut suffered damage as well.
Re-consecration of Etchmiadzin Cathedral
The iconic Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin, a sacred site for the Armenian Apostolic Church near Yerevan, Armenia, reopened its doors after a 12-year renovation. After being closed for six years, the cathedral was re-consecrated in a poignant ceremony led by the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II. The event was attended by 500 individuals, including notable members of the Armenian government, marking a historic moment for the nation.
Launching of a New Chaldean Parish in France
France welcomed the establishment of a new Chaldean parish, with Father Momtaz Kasha, hailing from Iraq, appointed as the first Chaldean priest in Pau. Father Kasha, who arrived in France in 2017 and previously served in Marseille and Paris, will oversee the parish’s spiritual needs. The Chaldean Church, with a significant diaspora in Europe, now boasts five parishes in France, in addition to its presence in Belgium, Germany, and Sweden.
